Chenzhou, China, September
22, 2013 – China booked the last ticket reserved for the AVC to the 2014 World
Championships in Poland after beating India 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-17) on the
final day of the Pool C competition of Asian Men’s Qualification Tournament.
The other 3 tickets have been obtained by Australia (Pool A), Iran (Pool B) and
Korea (Pool D). Japan has not qualified for the first time since 1960.

China got off to a
shaky start in its match against India, with the scoreboard showing 0-4, 3-8 and
9-12 in India’s favour. After Dai Qingrao was substituted by Yuan Zhi, China
scored 5 points successively to reverse the situation. From then on, China
played more and more efficiently in its serves, blocks and spikes not allowing India
a chance to come back. China took the first set 25-17.

China maintained their
momentum in the second set leading 8-4 at the first technical timeout with
Liang Chunlong’s effective blocks and Yuan Zhi’s skillful play. Facing China’s
forceful attack and tight defense, India did not pull through with counter
tactics and China led all the way to the end taking the second set 25-18.

The third set looked
like a copy of the second and without wasting too much time, China finished the
match by taking the third set 25-17.